A 23-year-old Sacramento man, Rafael Flores Jr., is being held on $500,000 bail in the Sacramento County Main Jail after detectives say he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl he allegedly groomed over social media.
According to arrest warrants, Flores is charged with multiple offenses, including five counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, along with related charges tied to allegedly sending explicit material and arranging a meeting with the girl.
Detectives with the Major Crimes Bureau say the case started when the victim's father reported the alleged assault in June 2025. Investigators arrested Flores on Feb. 4, as first reported by FOX40.
During a forensic interview, the girl disclosed that Flores initially contacted her on Instagram and Snapchat, allegedly sent her inappropriate images, and asked for sexually explicit material in return, investigators told the station. He then allegedly persuaded her to meet him at a hotel room in Sacramento County, where the assault occurred. Detectives say they believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
Investigation And Victim Services
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office reports that detectives from its Child Abuse Bureau and Major Crimes Bureau are leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Child Abuse Bureau at (916) 874-5191 or email [email protected], according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.
For suspected child victims, forensic interviews in Sacramento County are conducted at the Special Assault Forensic Evaluation (SAFE) Center. The goal is to minimize additional trauma while centralizing evidence collection, according to the county's SAFE Center information. Those findings are then routed to the District Attorney's Special Assault and Child Abuse unit, which handles prosecution and connects families with victim-witness services.
Charges And Potential Penalties
The arrest warrants list charges that include sending harmful matter with the intent to seduce a minor, along with multiple counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.
Under California law, sending harmful matter to a minor can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony and may bring prison time and sex-offender registration requirements, according to ShouseLaw. Lewd or lascivious acts with a child are addressed under California Penal Code section 288 and can carry state prison sentences if proved in court, per FindLaw.
How To Help And Protect Children Online
Detectives are urging anyone with additional information about this case to contact the Sheriff's Office Child Abuse Bureau. Tips can also be reported to national resources such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline.
For parents and caregivers worried about online grooming, experts commonly advise keeping internet-connected devices in shared spaces, reviewing privacy and contact settings on social media, and saving any troubling messages, images, or account information as potential evidence. Local victim support and forensic services are available through the SAFE Center and the Sacramento County District Attorney's special-assault unit for families affected by these types of investigations.
